Guests/Support

For DeFLYance:

Hovey Burgess

Hovey Burgess (Guest Performer)

Hovey Burgess has taught at NYU TSOA (since 1966) as well as the Juilliard School and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. His book Circus Techniques (1976), in print for 35 years, is now available as an e-book. Awards: International Jugglers Association “excellence in education”; Downtown Clown Golden Nose “lifetime achievement” and Red Skelton Award “gifted mentor to clown theatre artists”. Choreographer/actor in Robert Altman’s Popeye (1980). Circus Flora company member and dramaturg since 1991. As a long-time fan of Suspended Cirque, Hovey is delighted to be performing with them for the first time.

Sara Joel

Sara Joel (Guest Performer)

Sara Joel was an original cast member of Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity. She co-choreographed the Body2Body act which she performed in Las Vegas from 2003-2006. A version of this act was featured in CDS’s Solstrom on Bravo. After returning to NYC in 2006 (and having 2 babies!) Sara continues to choreograph and perform for CDS Special Events nationally and internationally. Mrs. Joel’s underwater dance film ‘Rapt’ opened Lincoln Center’s Dance on Camera Festival in 2007. Sara enjoys working with photographers Lois Greenfield and Howard Schatz. Mrs. Joel has performed her work at various NYC venues including City Center, Aaron Davis Hall, Joe’s Pub and NYU’s Skirball Theater.www.aerial-contortion.com

Jan Manke

Jan Manke (Guest Performer)

Growing up in buzzing post socialist East Berlin, Jan Manke’s journey to becoming an acrobat was through music, theatre and street performing. Introduced to circus as a musician for a fire juggler troupe, he then entered the 3 year circus school program of “die Etage” in his home town before traveling to other international circus schools on the search for perfecting his skill set. Now based in New York, Jan enjoys teaching and performing at various locations.

Brian Rardin

Brian Rardin (Director)

This will be Brian’s third show directing Suspended Cirque, including Swingin’ At Jack’s, an Aerial Circus Cabaret (Galapagos Art Space) and Under The Tree 2011 (Theatre for the New City). Other credits include – Director: Garbo (Barrow Group Theatre), Asst. Choreographer: Sessions; Assoc. Director & Choreographer: From Gershwin to Berlin (Algonquin Theater), Production Supervisor NYC: Menopause The Musical, Director & Choreographer: Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding – Philadelphia, San Jose, San Francisco and Disney World.

Brian has appeared on Broadway in the revival of Amadeus with David Suchet & Michael Sheen and in the Off-Broadway production of Passion Play.

Brian is thrilled to be working again with Suspended Cirque and this amazingly talented company and guest artists.

Kristin Geneve Young

Kristin Geneve Young (Guest Performer)

Kristin Geneve Young is an aerial artist, choreographer, and teacher based in Brooklyn. She has performed with Cirque du Soleil, Lisa’s Bright Ideas, ImaginAerial, Cirque Productions, Cirque le Masque, Helium Aerial Dance, Movement in C, Steve Koplowitz, and Noemie Lafrance, among others. In New York City, she has performed aerial works at Brooklyn Lyceum, Cantina Royal, Monkeytown, Galapagos Arts Space, ‘Above the Belt’ at the Zipper Factory and the Tank, Capitale, Cipriani, Webster Hall, and NYC Aerial Dance Festivals. Kristin teaches weekly aerial classes — come climb with her! http://flavors.me/kristingeneve

Former Members

Joshua Dean

Joshua Dean (co-founder, former member) Joshua has performed across the country and on several seas as an aerialist, dancer, and as a choreographer. He has danced for the legendary Twyla Tharp and been onstage in many musicals and ballets. Some of his credits include aerial choreographer and featured performer for Goodspeed Opera House’s “Cranival!” and Alabama Shakespeare Company’s “Peter Pan”, featured aerialist for Broadway Bares, aerialist and acrobat for Norwegian Cruise Line’s The Jewel and The Sun, and has worked for AcroBack, ImaginAerial, The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at the Spiegeltent, and more. He is an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Pace Univerity, and is a member of the aerial duo 2 to Fly. You can take aerial art classes from him at Trapeze School New York. More info at www.aerialjosh.com and www.2toFlyAerial.com.

For Holiday Show 2011:

Brian Rardin

Brian Rardin (Director)

Brian has appeared on Broadway in the revival of Amadeus and in the Off-Broadway production of Passion Play.

Brian is thrilled to be working again on such a unique interactive piece with this amazing company of performers.

Eric Gorsuch

Eric Gorsuch (Guest Performer)

Eric is a circus and variety performer currently based out of New York City. Standing 6 feet and 5 inches tall, Eric’s long lines and towering physique set him apart from the conventional circus body type.

Eric performs solo aerial span-sets in addition to hand to hand acrobatics. He also showcases numerous variety acts as Mr.Gorgeous, a pure spectacle of foolishness and mayhem in the best possible sense. Eric has been influenced by coaches Elsie Smith and Serenity Forchion along with Bill Forchion while studying at the New England Center for Circus Arts as a student in the Professional Track Program.

In addition to performing, Eric coaches both ground and aerial circus arts, focusing on youth and community based programs. Eric has worked for schools such as TSNY Baltimore / Washington DC and New England Center for Circus Arts and is currently working with Trapeze School New York (TSNY) NYC. Eric’s circus instruction has been built on top of a Masters Degree in Art Education from The Maryland Institute College of Art.

Jason Mejias

Jason Mejias (Guest Performer)

Jason began his career at the age of 8, when he joined a local Acrobatic Gymnastics team in his hometown of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. He trained and competed nationally for many years under the men’s pair and four men category. After attending College at The University of Puerto Rico for Business Administration, he decided to retire from Acrobatics and move to New York City, where he worked for 4 years as an operations manager.

It was during this time in NY when his passion for aerial and acrobatic arts was reawakened. He knew where he really wanted to be and what he was born to do. He left his previous job and in 2007 became a Flying Trapeze Instructor at Trapeze School New York where he continues to bring a fun, yet intense approach to teaching, perfecting skills and adapting the techniques he has learned from his own experiences.

Currently, Jason is an aerial and acrobatic performer based in New York City. And while he continues to be an excellent Flying Trapeze Instructor, Jason can also be seen instructing Balancing & Acrobatics Classes at Trapeze School New York (TSNY) NYC.

For Subterranea:

Andrew Oswald

Andrew Oswald (Director/Co-Creator, Subterranea)

Andrew has been directing plays since he was about 7 years old. And he thanks his brothers and sisters for coming to, and acting in, all of those early performances. Since then Andrew has grown up. A little. He is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and the North Carolina School of the Arts. His most recent directorial work was with the 8o’clocks on their NYFringe Festival production of As I Am Fully Known. He has worked as a guest artist and director with Brooklyn’s “One Arm Red” and was Co-Artistic Director of Bedtime Sketch Comedy for two years. He has also worked as an actor up and down the East Coast. He played John Thorpe in Distilled Spirits OOBR award winning production of Northanger Abbey. Andrew is honored to be collaborating with Suspended Cirque on Subterranea and he looks forward to sharing this work with an audience soon.

Lani Corson

Lani Corson (Guest Performer, Subterranea)

Lani is very excited to be working alongside these amazing artists! She has performed around the country and internationally as a musical theatre performer in such shows as 42nd Street, State Fair, Brigadoon, Cats and more. She has also dabbled in silks and would like to thank Josh and Ben for their encouragement and this opportunity!

Jeff Halpern is a composer, arranger, music director, voice teacher and coach. Credits include music direction for The Secret Garden (National Tour) Beauty and the Beast (LA); Das Barbecue (Off Broadway); Carly Simon; Anne Bogart; Martha Clarke; John Kelly; Associate Conductor for Houston Grand Opera. Has served on the faculties of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Barnard College, UCSD Graduate Theater Program, Trinity Repertory Conservatory. His private studio serves many Broadway and regional performers.

Andrew J White

Andrew J White (Lighting Designer, Subterranea)

Andrew J. White is truly excited about his first production with Suspended Cirque. He is currently touring the US as Tour Manager of the new Gershwin revue ‘S Wonderful. Prior to that, he was honored to assist Executive Producer Joey Parnes on the Broadway production of Hair. He has also toured extensively with the East Village Opera Company as their resident lighting designer. In addition to theatrical clients, Andrew runs an upstart consultation service which provides nightclubs, corporate offices, and private residences with affordable lighting and design solutions.

For Swingin’ at Jack’s:

Brian Rardin

Brian Rardin (Director, Swingin’ at Jack’s)

Brian has appeared on Broadway in the revival of Amadeus and in the Off-Broadway production of Passion Play.

Leenya has also performed in numerous regional shows, in films, and with bands. An honor graduate of the University of Colorado School of Music; Phoenix, her premiere album of original songs, is available at www.leenya.com.